As we all know, we recently learned that Bluebell has crystals in her urine, which can lead to the development of stones.

I'm not looking to start debate or try to discredit what other people's vets have told them, but I will not feed my animals food that contain the type of ingredients that are found in the commercial Rx diets. My vet was happy to work with me on this, and even supplied me with some information about home cooking for Bluebell. In addition to her info, I have been gathering info and opinions from the web concerning raw diets and bladder stones.

I AM NOT A VET, NOR AM I A NUTRITIONIST. DO NOT FOLLOW ANY OF THIS INFORMATION WITHOUT DOING YOUR OWN RESEARCH FIRST AND DISCUSSING WITH YOUR OWN VET.

For All Dogs at Risk of Stones

Keep fresh, distilled water available for your dog at all times, and encourage consumption of water. I might make a homemade chicken stock and add that to the water to keep the dog drinking nicely. Keeping the kidneys and bladders flushed is of paramount importance to help prevent crystals and stone formation. Water consumption is very, very important!

Monica Segal has a raw diet for each TYPE of stones (which is super important) in her book, Optimum Nutrition. She also will customize the diets, for a nominal fee. She can be found at www.monicasegal.com.

Sabine Contreras also does customized, raw diets, for dogs with issues. She can be found at www.betterdogcare.com.

Some people have had success keeping the urine acidic, which helps prevent these crystals from forming, by feeding acidic foods and avoiding alkaline foods. A raw, natural diet is high in acidic foods. Because bladder infections lead to high alkaline urinary pH and struvite crystals, many people, including many vets, make the mistake of treating the problem by acidifying the diet. But that is confusing cause and effect. Alkaline pH and struvite crystals are not caused by a diet of alkaline foods; they are usually caused by bladder infections. Therefore, trying to make the urine more acidic will not get rid of the infection. Alkaline pH can also be normal, as pH can vary a great deal even in the same dog at different times of the day, and also by the way the urine was captured and handled before testing.

Calcium Oxalate crystals can also be found in a healthy dog, but are more prone to develop into stones in some dogs. The pH in dogs with these types of crystals is usually acidic or neutral. It is thought that some dogs that are more prone to these types of stones have an inherited weakness that prevents them from forming nephrocalein, which prevents calcium oxalate stone formation. While these stones are mostly treated by surgically removing them, there has been some success with reducing the oxalate rich foods in the diet and working to alkalize the urine pH.

Provides 760 kilocalories, 47.3 grams protein, 21.1 grams fatSupports caloric needs of a 31 lb dogProvides 92.7 milligrams sodium/100-kilocalorie diet- a high sodium intake. Without the vegetable oil, the caloric content is 670 kilocalories and fat content is 24 grams. The oil can be omitted from the diet if the plan is to reduce the fat intake.

Wow, you certainly have done quite a bit of research already, Danielle!

I think it's great to have many options to see what fits best into you and your fluffs lifestyle .. if you have the time, ability, skills, to cook/prepare a specialized diet for your fluff in need.. I say, more power to you!

Danielle for this great list although Jemma doesn't have crystals at this point in time I think this post will help those of us who may be dealing with this in the future I too send lots of get well wishes to Bluebell

They dropped the recipes (3 for struvite stones) in the mail on Friday morning, so I should hopefully have them Tuesday to add and share. Hopefully it will be a good base for others to work off of if they find themselves in a similar situation.

I'm using what the vet gave me, though I'm contacting one of the nutritionists to tailor a better diet for her needs. I don't mind feeding this to expedite getting her numbers down, but I don't want to feed this for the rest of her life. I'd rather some raw (probably just a matter of adjusting her bone/mineral intake slightly).